TriumphUK

Hi everyone,

Newbie here looking for some advice... Came across the group looking for vintage bicycle tips and thought I would join and say hello.

Recently decided to get myself a bicycle after not having owned one since I was a kid, as I need to cut down the local driving and get some exercise. Not a fan of Mountain bikes and wanted to opt for something a bit more classic.

Anyway, I have just purchased an old vintage gents Triumph 3 Gear bicycle, with what I think are called rod brakes. Not sure if it's called a roadster?




I'm not 100% sure on it's age, but looking at the frame code and what I can find on the internet i think the bike was made in Nottingham January 1975

Person I purchased the bike from locally had the bike serviced not that long ago and has been using it as a commuting bike and so it is in woking order but has some rust to the chrome that i hope will come off with a bit of work.

Any tips on cleaning this bike up would be wonderful! Would like to keep it as original as possible, so will be looking at adding a decent saddle, some vintage style lights and perhaps a rear carrier with a box at some point when funds allow. For now though I just want to clean it up and maybe give it a wax or polish to tidy it up before I go out and start using it

Sorry for the long winded first post.. Any pointer would be gratefully received, not much on the internet on Triumph bicycles.

Look forward to chatting to some of you i hope

Regards,

Trium****

vexed73

Did triumph make a bicycle as a reliable alternative to the spitfire. nice bike.

wahoonc

Interesting bike...

The 3 speed hub should have a date code on it something like 75 6 which would mean the hub was made in June 1975. For cleaning chrome like yours I use a bit of the old style automotive chrome polish, the brand I have is Turtle Wax. Used it on my 1960's MGB's.

Aaron

TriumphUK

Thanks Aaron,

I have just had a look at the Sturmey Archer hub and it has a code 97 11 so i'm guessing it's was changed at some point. Bike frame has the code NA5215332 which made be believe the frame dates from Jan 1975

Still not the end of the world, it's works and was purchased to use


Will have a look in Halfords and see what they have re polish.. Any idea what I can put on the paint work to make is shine once cleaned. Just a wipe with a oily rag or can I wax it??


Cheers,

Lawrence

auchencrow

Very nice Triumph T-UK, and in a nice size.
Yes, you would call it a roadster equipped as it is with rod brakes.

+1 on acquiring a proper saddle (ASAP)!

Cleaning up rust is best done with a mild Oxalic Acid & water solution. You will find a ton of information on this if you run a Google search on this site. Of course this does entail some dis-assembly - if you are not up for that immediately, there are some who recommend a little aluminum (aluminium?) foil for light rust removal. Do NOT use steel wool or hard abrasives as it will remove chrome with the rust.

Before you wax I would recommend a thorough going over with Meguialr's Scratch-X. It will bring back the luster to the paint such as it was when new.

markk900

Lovely bike! You may find that saddle a bit uncomfortable on a bike that you sit upright on.....if so, there are a number of lovely sprung saddles available to make that problem go away.

clubman 

'74/75 is probably a good guess. The solid pedals are 70's issue and the wheels appear to be 36/36 drilling which dates them past '73. Dates codes on frames are often not helpful with many Raleighs.

Very nice condition it seems.

gna

Your way is funnier. Made by Raleigh; bought the name in 1954. No connection to the car and motorcycle company.

TriumphUK

Thanks for all the replies... What a great forum, really pleased I came across this site!

Nice to see the general census is that it's a nice bike and it's not just me who thinks it

Saddle wise, I have just secured a deal on a nice vintage style saddle that is coming complete with toolbag and multi-tool...



I have also ordered some Scratch X and some Silvo Duraglit Wadding Polish to have a go at cleaning the bike up a bit. Next on the list is to track down a rear rack so I can add a box or old hamper basket to the rear, a chrome bicycle pump that 16" and a set of modern but vintage style lights

Found some nice lights but cannot find, one of the attachments (Boxed in red on photo)to connect the front light to the existing light bracket?




Cheers,

T'UK

fietsbob

as Opposed to the Bonneville 650 twin?


is that light made by Lucas?

TriumphUK

Hi fietsbob,

That one is a NOS Sturmey Archer that listed on eBay UK, great light but i'm after a battery one... but none of the modern type seem to come with that style of fixing. Hoping to track down an old fixing a swap it over.

gna

Is that a picture of what you want; that is, do you need the parts in the box? Or is that a picture of what you bought?
If the former, you might find a variety of adaptors such as:

from retrobicycle supply or

from eBay UK

See https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Raleigh-Sports

TriumphUK

Hi gna,

Thank you... That's just what i'm after! Had a search and obviously wasn't calling it the right name as I came up with nothing similar lol

Cheers,

T'UK

TriumphUK

Anyone know what these pieces are called... Even after gna's hints, I still cannot track one down on ebay or through searching the internet?

SirMike1983 

I believe 1970s is correct on that bike. They changed your hub at some point if it's a 97 model. However, what you have is more interesting than it first seems.

It appears at first to be a basic spec DL-1 with different stickers/badge. But if you look, the seat stays are the fixed Raleigh Sports type rather than bolt-on DL-1 type. The frame looks like a 23 or 24 inch frame, so it's almost like a large Sports type frame. The drops go forward and have the Sports-type shape.

Are those wheels 28 or 26 inches? They look 26 to me, with Sports-type peaked fenders to boot, not the usual round DL-1 type.

If they're 26 you have a somewhat interesting hybrid of DL-1 and Sports features there. If it's 28, then you have a somewhat unique frame in having fixed seat stays but 28 inch wheels. From what I can see, you don't just have a run of the mill DL-1 clone, but something a little bit different.

gna

Not certain, but "headlight mount bracket" seems to be what many folks call it. Try Old Bike Trader Send him an email and see if he can help.

TriumphUK

Cheers again gna, I have dropped them a message...

TriumphUK

Hi SirMike1983,

Sorry for the delayed reply, many thanks for taking the time to look closely at the bike and posting your knowledge on the bicycle.. Very interesting reading technical information about the bike. Something I have no idea about, although have been reading lots about the history of the earlier bikes, and found a lovely old movie clip on how bikes are made. Think I may be becoming a bit obsessed about this Triumph

I have just checked the wheels and I think they are 26" but not really sure how to read the code, this is the rear wheel information if it helps:


Thanks,

Lawrence

gna

Yes, those are 26" wheels. 26 x 1 3/8", 590mm bead seat. Very common on English 3-speeds. Many rod-braked roadsters use a larger 28" wheel, hence the question.
Rod-braked bicycles are not as common in the US, and the ones you'll see are almost always DL-1s with 28" wheels. I think 26" rod-braked bicycles may be more common in England.

SirMike1983 

That's a pretty good picture. It's a 26 x 1 3/8 wheel (ISO 590 is right). The bike is a mixture of the light roadster and rod brake roadster elements. They turn up in Britain but not so much in the US. When they do turn up they're often in the "Raleigh" form (Raleigh Dawn series etc) and not Triumph badge. I think you've got a keeper/rider there.

TriumphUK

Thanks for the information, nice to know what it is... Glad you think it's a keeper/rider!

Will post an updated pic in a few weeks, once the new saddle, lights, pump etc.. have arrived and I have had a go at cleaning up the bike up a bit

wahoonc

What I find interesting is that I have a 1952-4 Hercules Skyliner that is similar but single speed. Mine was definitely a Birmingham built Hercules, rod brakes and 590 rims.

Aaron

TriumphUK

Hi All,

Been a while since my last post so time for an update... Have cleaned and polished bike & added new saddle, lights, rear rack and basket.

Here he is now:


Bicycle is being used and had some lovely comments from people.


Next on list is to find a kick stand that will fit this bike (Purchased two and neither work as they get in the way of the pedals) and also would like to get some replacement pedals at some point as these ones are a little rusty and will not polish up..

P.s. Thank-you to gna for the contact, I did managed to get the front light bracket that i needed, from old bike trader


Cheers,

Lawrence

sailorbenjamin

gorgeous. That basket is the perfect touch.

gna

You're welcome. The bike looks great. Enjoy the ride.

Not sure what kickstand is correct for that bike. I put a Pletscher on my wife's Raleigh and I have a Greenfield on mine, but you may need a Raleigh-made one: